Lehigh County

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania is located in the southeastern part of the state of Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia and west of Northampton County. Lehigh County has a population of approximately 374,000 people and was first settled in the 1700s. Lehigh County has a well-developed transportation network, with major highways such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-78, Route 22 and Route 222 serving the region.

Allentown is the largest city in Lehigh County and serves as its county seat. It is the third largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Allentown is patrolled by the Allentown City Police Department as well as the Pennsylvania State Police.

Due to the large number of criminal cases and traffic citations written, Allentown has multiple District Courts. Magisterial District Judge Rashid Santiago of Court 31-1-02 and Magisterial District Judge Karen C. Devine of Court 31-2-01 are both located at the Lehigh County Courthouse on Hamilton Street in Allentown, PA. Magisterial District Judge Ronald Manescu of Court 31-1-03 is also located on Hamilton Street in Allentown, PA. Magisterial District Judge Mark A. McCants of Court 31-1-09 is located on 3rd Street in Allentown, PA. Magisterial District Judge David M. Howells, Jr. of Court 31-1-04 is located on Lehigh Street in Allentown, PA. Magisterial District Judge Michael D. D’Amore of Court 31-1-05 is located on Union Boulevard in Allentown, PA.

Allentown is home to many major roads and highways including Interstate 78, Route 22 (Lehigh Valley Thruway/William Penn Highway), Route 309 (Lehigh Street), Route 222 (Hamilton Boulevard), Hamilton Street, Lehigh Street, and American Parkway. These roadways carry tens of thousands of motorists a day and as a result, many DUI arrests are made and thousands of traffic tickets are written each year.

Interstate 78 (I-78) is an east-west interstate that runs through Allentown and is a vital route for travelers heading to and from New Jersey, New York City, and Harrisburg. In Allentown, I-78 intersects with other major roads like Route 309 and Route 22. The speed limit on this road can alternate between 55 mph to 65 mph. Motorists on Interstate 78 may be unaware of the reduced urban highway speed limit which may result in getting pulled over for speeding violations and DUI. If you get ticketed for speeding on Interstate 78, points could be assessed, and your license could be suspended for speeds greater that 31 mph over the limit.

Route 22 (Lehigh Valley Thruway/William Penn Highway) is a major east-west highway that runs through the city of Allentown. Due to its importance and heavy usage, Route 22 in Allentown can experience significant traffic congestion, especially during peak travel times and rush hours. The speed limit on this road is usually 55 mph. Between congested traffic and the lower speed limit for an urban highway, many accident-related and speeding citations are issued for travel on this roadway. These types of citations, careless driving, driving at safe speeds, following too closely, to name a few, are matters that our law firm routinely handles.

Route 309 (Lehigh Street) is an important thoroughfare that connects Allentown with neighboring communities, including South Whitehall Township, Whitehall Township, and other areas in Lehigh County. This highway has frequent traffic light intersections which increases the risk for drivers receiving red light citations and accident-related citations. Our firm has assisted countless drivers over the years with citations related to this highway including red light violations, Vehicle Turning Left and following too closely.

Route 222 (Hamilton Boulevard) is a major north-south highway that passes near Allentown, Pennsylvania, but it does not directly run through the city itself. Instead, it runs adjacent to Allentown and serves as an important transportation corridor for the region.

Bethlehem is a historic city located in the Lehigh Valley. Bethlehem is home to several institutions of higher education, including Lehigh University and Moravian College. This leads to a higher than usual number of underage drinking, possession of alcohol by a minor and public drunkenness citations being issued in Bethlehem. We often represent students who are charged with Carrying a False (Fake) ID in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is shared by both Lehigh and Northampton counties. While Bethlehem's economy was historically driven by steel production, the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is now located on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. Cases of theft, assault and public drunkenness are frequently filed for incidents arising from Sands Casino. Additionally, as Bethlehem police frequently patrol the area around Sands Casino which leads to arrests for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or illegal possession of drugs.

Magisterial District Judge Amy Zanelli of Court 31-1-06 is located on W. Union Boulevard in Bethlehem, PA. Bethlehem is patrolled by the City of Bethlehem Police Department. The Pennsylvania State Police out of the Bethlehem barracks also assist with law enforcement in Bethlehem City.

Route 378 is a north-south highway that runs through Bethlehem, connecting the city with the nearby city of Bethlehem Township, as well as providing access to Route 22. Speeding citations are frequently issued in Bethlehem as the maximum speed limit in the city is only 55 mph.

Main Street is a major thoroughfare in Bethlehem, running through the downtown area and featuring shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. It serves as a key commercial and cultural corridor.

Broadway is another important road in Bethlehem, running parallel to Main Street and providing access to various neighborhoods, businesses, and attractions.

Airport Road connects Bethlehem with the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) and serves as a primary route for travelers accessing the airport from the city.

Upper Macungie Township is situated in the western part of Lehigh County, bordered by Berks County to the west and Northampton County to the north. It covers a significant area, making it one of the largest townships in Lehigh County in terms of land area. Upper Macungie Township is a growing and dynamic community with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Its strategic location, economic opportunities, and amenities make it an attractive place to live, work, and visit within the Lehigh Valley.

Magisterial District Judge Michael Faulkner of Court 31-3-02 is located on Tilghman Street in Lehigh County, PA. Upper Macungie Township is patrolled by the Upper Macungie Township Police Department. The Pennsylvania State Police out of the Fogelsville barracks also assist with law enforcement in Upper Macungie Township.

Route 100 (Pottstown Pike) is a north-south highway that intersects with I-78 in Upper Macungie Township. It serves as a key route for local traffic and connects the township with neighboring communities like Allentown, Trexlertown, and Fogelsville. The Upper Macungie Police Department issues an abundance of traffic citations for violations for speeding on this road. Luckily, our law firm frequently appears at Judge Michael Faulkner’s District Court to assist our clients with these citations.

Route 863 (Schantz Road) is an east-west road that runs through Upper Macungie Township, connecting areas such as Breinigsville and Fogelsville with other parts of the township and neighboring townships.

Krocks Road is another important east-west road in Upper Macungie Township, providing access to residential neighborhoods, schools, and commercial developments.

Whitehall Township is situated just north of Allentown. It covers a significant area and is one of the larger townships in the county in terms of both land area and population. Whitehall Township is home to the Lehigh Valley Mall, a major shopping destination in the region with a wide range of retail stores, dining options, and entertainment venues. The township also has numerous other shopping centers and restaurants scattered throughout its neighborhoods.

Magisterial District Judge Todd P. Heffelfinger of Court 31-1-07 is located on Crescent Court East in Whitehall, PA. The Whitehall Township Police Department patrols Whitehall Township, PA. The South Whitehall Police Department and Coplay Police Department also have cases out of this Distroct Court. The Pennsylvania State Police also assist with law enforcement in Whitehall Township.

Route 145 (MacArthur Road) is a major north-south highway that runs through Whitehall and serves as a primary commercial corridor in the township. It is lined with shopping centers, businesses, restaurants, and retail outlets, making it a busy thoroughfare. This roads runs along the Lehigh Valley Mall. Due to the high volume of travelers on this road our law firm assists clients often with speeding and red light citations issued for traffic violations committed on this road. There are frequent crashes in these congested areas, leading to crash-related citations issued in Whitehall Township such a driving at safe speeds, following too closely and careless driving.

Lehigh Street is a major north-south road in Whitehall, intersecting with MacArthur Road (Route 145) and providing access to residential neighborhoods, schools, and businesses.

Fullerton Avenue is an east-west road in Whitehall that connects Route 145 (MacArthur Road) with Route 22. It serves as a local route for commuters and provides access to various amenities and services along its path.

Coopersburg Borough is located approximately 10 miles south of Allentown, PA. The area where Coopersburg now stands was originally settled by William Cooper in the late 18th century. The borough grew around the Cooper homestead and developed as a small rural community.

Magisterial District Judge Daniel Trexler of Court 31-3-03 is located on North Main Street in Coopersburg, PA. The Coopersburg Police Department and The Upper Saucon Police Department frequently issue traffic citations in Coopersburg Borough, PA. The Pennsylvania State Police also assist with law enforcement in this area. As the speed limit drops substantially in Coopersburg, many motorist face speeding tickets on Route 309.

Route 309 (Pennsylvania Route 309) is a major north-south highway that passes near Coopersburg. While it doesn't directly run through the borough, Route 309 is accessible from Coopersburg and provides a convenient route for travelers heading north towards Quakertown or south towards Center Valley and Allentown. Route 309 notoriously has a steep hill that drops into a 25 mph speed zone upon entering Coopersburg. This leads to a significant amount of speeding citations being issued in Coopersburg, PA.

Main Street is the primary thoroughfare in Coopersburg, running through the heart of the borough. It is lined with businesses, shops, restaurants, and local services. Main Street also serves as a key route for local traffic within Coopersburg. If you are issued a traffic ticket in Lehigh County, you only have 10 days to enter your plea. Since most moving violations carry points which could impact your insurance rates, you should follow the instructions on the ticket and enter a plea of Not Guilty which must be done by mail, as you can only plead Guilty online. Most judges in Lehigh County will permit our lawyers to appear for the driver in court, so you may not have to attend the court hearing to get your points reduced. Call the highly experienced Traffic attorneys at Ellis B. Klein & Associates at (215) 867-2393 before you pay the fine and we would be happy to give you a free consultation. Our attorneys have collectively handled thousands of Lehigh County traffic offenses and have a 99% success rate in reducing points on most moving violations. Many Magisterial District Judges in Lehigh County will permit us to attend the traffic hearing in your place, so you may not even need to go to court to get your points reduced.

Likewise, if you have been arrested for a DUI in Lehigh County, you will be receiving the criminal charges and a summons to appear for your Preliminary Hearing, where the evidence is presented against you and bail is set by the Lehigh County District Judge. The experienced attorneys at Ellis B. Klein & Associates practice daily before Lehigh County Judges and have handled thousands of DUI cases. Call for a free consultation at (215) 867-2393 and we would be happy to discuss your Lehigh County DUI case with you and answer all of your questions.